What to look for in swimwear materials

We asked the experts at Zone3 to share their insights on high-performance swimwear fabrics. From chlorine resistance and shape retention to special coatings, what should we look for in swimwear?

What attributes should I look for in high-performance swimwear?

Three things matter most: how the fabric moves through water, how much it absorbs, and how it supports your body position. A hydrophobic fabric sheds water at the surface rather than soaking it up, which keeps the suit light and prevents drag.

How do I know if a material is durable?

Chlorine resistance is the one to check first, since it’s the fastest thing to go wrong. A fabric that resists chlorine keeps its fibres intact session after session, rather than breaking down into the sagging, faded look you get from a suit that’s been overused.

Shape retention is the fabric’s ability to keep its structure and compression under repeated stretching and drying. Colour fastness is simply how well the fabric holds its colour rather than fading.

Polyester and PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) blends tend to outperform nylon on chlorine resistance over time, part of why they’ve become the standard fibre choice for competitive training swimwear. Xfinity Renew, Zone3’s performance swimwear fabric, is built to hold up on three fronts: chlorine resistance, shape retention and colour fastness. They’re closely related, since it’s usually the same fibre choice driving all three.

How can I help my swimwear last longer?

Rinse the swimsuit in cold, clean fresh water immediately after every swim, whether pool, sea or lake, to remove chlorine, salt, sunscreen and body oils before they bond to the fabric fibres. Hand wash with a small amount of gentle, non-biological detergent or dedicated swimwear wash. Machine washing, even on a delicate cycle, accelerates elastic fibre breakdown through mechanical friction and heat. Never wring or twist a swimsuit to remove water. Press gently between a towel and allow to air dry flat or on a non-wire hanger away from direct sunlight.

Avoid sitting on rough poolside surfaces, as abrasion is one of the fastest ways to thin technical fabric and break down the outer fabric coating. Rotating between two suits during heavy training blocks allows each suit to fully dry and recover between sessions.

What technical fabrics should we look for?

Zone3’s swimwear range runs on three technical fabrics: Xfinity Renew, PaperLite and Aquaflo. Xfinity Renew is the recycled polyester behind Zone3’s whole performance swimwear range, 100% chlorine proof, sunscreen resistant and UPF50+, built for shape and colour retention.

PaperLite is the lightweight, hydrodynamic fabric on Zone3’s top race tier, Performance Gold. It carries a nano coating for water repellence and is structured for compression and shape retention. This is the one to look for if you need a FINA-approved option.

Aquaflo is the hydrodynamic second-skin fabric on Performance Speed, Zone3’s entry point into race swimwear, a step below PaperLite on price, still built for a low-drag fit.

What about coatings on swimwear?

Nano coating is worth understanding on its own, since it shows up across more than one fabric: it’s a water-repellent surface treatment that sheds water at the surface rather than letting the fabric absorb it, which keeps the garment light and cuts drag rather than letting it get heavy and waterlogged.

What else should you look out for?

Flatlock seams matter more than people expect. It’s a low-profile, low-abrasion seam construction to avoid chafe points that build up over long sessions. Beyond that, look at how the cut suits your stroke. An open-back strap design gives the most shoulder freedom. A high-neck cut gives secure, streamlined coverage.

What does compression do?

Compression applies even pressure to the muscles, which can help support them through repeated movement and reduce the muscle vibration that contributes to fatigue over a long swim. In swimwear specifically, compression also holds the body into a tighter, more hydrodynamic shape.